The Seychelles are set to benefit from an €8 million envelope mobilised through the COMESA RECAMP programme, co-funded by the European Union. The goal: strengthen the competitiveness of local micro, small and medium-sized enterprises on regional and global markets, with a particular focus on women-led businesses.
A Regional Programme Tailored for Seychelles
The RECAMP — Regional Capacity-Building Programme — stems from a contribution agreement signed between the COMESA Secretariat and the European Union, for a total envelope of €8.8 million. The portion specifically allocated to the Seychelles amounts to €8 million. The programme targets the most vulnerable segments of the local business ecosystem: micro-enterprises and SMEs, which form the backbone of private employment across the archipelago.
Four Concrete Areas of Action
RECAMP goes well beyond financial transfers. It operates across four practical pillars. First, sanitary and phytosanitary standards training — essential for accessing European and Asian export markets. Second, the roll-out of quality management systems, including ISO certifications and equivalent frameworks, to raise production standards. Third, the creation of entrepreneurial hubs, prioritising women-led businesses through the local chapter of the COMESA Federation of Women Businesspersons (COMFWB). Fourth, integration into regional value chains through public-private dialogue platforms and export readiness programmes.
These pillars address identified structural gaps: existing national schemes such as the Development Bank's SME Scheme (offering loans up to SCR 3 million) focus on capital provision but do not build skills or prepare firms for internationalisation.
A Context That Makes the Initiative Critical
The Seychelles faces well-documented structural constraints: excessive tourism dependency, limited market size, high operating costs and restricted business financing. More than 700 SMEs have already accessed African Development Bank financing, reflecting strong demand against a still-insufficient supply. The RECAMP programme complements the existing landscape by tackling competitiveness beyond financing.
Why It Matters
For an archipelago of 100,000 people where tourism accounts for over 60% of economic activity, diversifying revenue streams and opening SMEs to export is not an option — it is a resilience imperative. This COMESA programme offers a rare opportunity to accelerate that diversification backed by substantial technical and financial support. The stakes extend beyond the Seychelles: in a COMESA market of 21 countries and 600 million consumers, achieving « export-ready » status can reshape the growth trajectory of a Seychellois SME within a few years. Businesses interested in the programme are encouraged to contact their local chamber of commerce or the COMFWB.
Source: Capmad / APAnews / The Seychelles Times